NADA Elects 2009 Chairman

October 15, 2008

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SAN DIEGO — The National Automobile Dealers Association announced Wednesday that it has elected a new chairman for 2009. Voted into the position is John McEleney, owner of McEleney Autocenter and McEleney Autoplex, which are both located in Iowa City, Iowa.

McEleney, currently NADA's vice chairman, takes office in January.

As economic turmoil and credit concerns swirl within the industry and are expected to persist throughout 2009, McEleney said the credit issue will be one of NADA's top priorities in the new year.

Tight credit restrictions have caused many consumers to fret over how they will finance their next vehicle purchase, but McEleney appears to remain positive about overcoming these challenges.

"It's important for consumers to know that credit is available," McEleney commented. "It may be a tough time for business, but it's a great time for consumers who have a stable job and solid credit scores.

"There are plenty of incentives that lower costs," he added. "Dealers can help find financing. And the quality of today's vehicles is the best ever."

McEleney went on to say: "Most people have heard the expression, ‘All politics is local.' The same is true of credit. All credit is local. The fact is, local dealers have access to multiple sources of financing, including many community banks and credit unions that have plenty of money to lend," he noted.

Moving on, NADA also elected Edward Tonkin as its 2009 vice chairman. Tonkin is the vice president of Ron Tonkin Dealerships in Portland, Ore.

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